London – It’s not John, Paul, George and Ringo crossing Abbey Road on PETA’s birthday card to Sir Paul McCartney – it’s a “fish”, “pig”, “chicken” and “cow” carrying signs that spell out, “Happy Birthday, Paul! Thank You for Loving Us, Not Eating Us”, in honour of the celebrated vegetarian’s 70th birthday. In addition to sending Sir Paul the one-of-a-kind photograph, PETA will also be distributing free copies of its “Glass Walls” DVD – narrated by Sir Paul – to the fans who will gather on Abbey Road and in Liverpool on Sir Paul’s birthday on 18 June.

“PETA couldn’t be happier to celebrate Sir Paul’s birthday”, says PETA Manager Mimi Bekhechi. “He has done so much to help animals during his legendary career, and we can’t think of a person more deserving of celebration.”

Sir Paul went vegetarian more than 40 years ago out of compassion for animals after realising whilst fishing that a fish’s life is, as the former Beatle explained in his PETA advert, “as important to him as mine is to me”. Now, Sir Paul says, “I would never go back. I enjoy being vegetarian. It’s a thrill, and I can walk past a field of animals with a clear conscience”. He teamed up with PETA to narrate the group’s video exposé of the meat industry, “Glass Walls“, and his widely successful Meat Free Monday initiative points out the environmental benefits of vegetarian meals. Explains Sir Paul, “If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat. That’s the single most important thing you could do. It’s staggering when you think about it. Vegetarianism takes care of so many things in one shot: ecology, famine, cruelty”.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation—a charitable company limited by guarantee, with its registered office at 125 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5AS. Registered in England and Wales as charity number 1056453, company number 3135903.